The Pros and Cons of Traveling Solo

Traveling alone can seem like a romantic prospect – even if it’s just you out there in the great wide open. Yet, these days traveling alone can have some daunting challenges, especially if you aren’t prepared. In the old days you could get on your horse and head straight for the North Star, but in a world of cybercrime and identity theft, it can be hard to feel safe anywhere that feels unfamiliar. However, if you are prepared and have enough of a fervent wanderlust – and some extra dough saved up – it can be incredibly exciting to travel all by yourself. Here are some of the pros and cons of traveling solo.

First, it is important to know that the old adage about safety in numbers is an adage for a reason – it is true. If you go backpacking or aren’t being carted by a livery vehicle from fancy hotel to fancy hotel, you could risk getting robbed, attacked or worse – depending on the crime factor of a particular region. If you are a woman, it can be incredibly dangerous to hoof it in many countries. One of the biggest cons of traveling alone is that it can be too perilous – it’s always good to have someone to back you up.

One of the biggest pros, however, to traveling with a friend is that you can save money – you might even be able to stay in nicer accommodations. For some people, traveling solo means only having enough money to fork up for a hostel. With a friend you can probably get away with sharing a moderately priced hotel room – there is nothing like being able to come back to a nice, hot shower after a long day of sightseeing. Plus, you’ll have a nice roof over your head and someone to recount the day with.

Next, you must also consider all the things you might not be able to see, or the people you might not be able to meet if you are traveling with a friend. Yes, if you travel with a friend s/he will be by your side the whole time. For instance, what if you want to go on one of the many Boston ghost tours, but your friend doesn’t believe in the supernatural world? What do you do then? What if you don’t want to go to the Eiffel Tower, but your friend does. The only way to work out this quandary is to go back in time and uninvite your friend from the trip – it’s too bad that’s not possible.

Lastly, it all depends on what the objectives of your getaway are. Are you looking to find yourself, or to go on a holiday with a significant other? It can be hard to find yourself when you are constantly with somebody else. Once you know why you’re traveling you can decide whether the trip will be best had with a companion or not. At the end of the day, many of the pros and cons of traveling are created by the indecision of the traveler in the first place.